NICOLA Sturgeon has announced face coverings will be mandatory on public transport from Monday.

The First Minister confirmed at Holyrood that the country will move into the second phase of the Scottish Government's four-part plan to move out of lockdown.

Face coverings will be compulsory on buses, trains, taxis and trams, with only children under five, those with breathing problems or other physical conditions that make it difficult to wear a mask exempt.

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Sturgeon said: "We believe that this measure will be increasingly important as use of public transport increases and that implementing it now will help to reduce the risks of transmission and build public confidence.

"We have for several weeks recommended that people should wear face coverings in enclosed spaces where physical distancing might not always be possible - such as on public transport and in shops.

"That is because of the evidence that wearing face coverings can reduce the risk of the virus being transmitted.

"If you have Covid, but maybe don't realise it because you don't have symptoms, a face covering reduces the risk of you passing the virus on to other people."

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The FM warned coverings are not an "absolute safeguard" and should be used alongside the social distancing measures and hand-washing.

In a statement released after the announcement, Transport Secretary Michael Matheson commented: "We are asking people to take personal responsibility to do the right thing.

"Wearing a face covering while on public transport means you are playing your part in the collective effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus and reducing the risk to your fellow citizens.

"These measures complement physical distancing and good hand hygiene, they do not replace them."

Roz Foyer, of the Scottish Trade Union Congress, said the organisation "fully supports" the implementation of mandatory face coverings.

The Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Scotland union director Paul White agreed, saying: "Passengers have worked with bus operators and with each other to maintain social distancing guidelines; we will be looking to them to work with us to ensure the policy is a success."

Anthony Smith, the chief executive of the independent travel watchdog Transport Focus, said: "People thinking of returning to public transport have told us they want face coverings to be used by all passengers.

"Today's decision will provide welcome clarity and will boost pressure on others to cover up.

"Transport operators must ensure that passengers who need to travel have clear advice to understand what is expected of them, who is exempt and how they can play their part to help keep one another safe."